Musical instrument



Jan. 26, 1943- P. MCAULIFFE 2,309,406

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT' Filed March 28, 1942. 2 sheets-sheet 1 l WWW MW Jan. 26,- 1943. F.l MCAUUFFE 2,309,406

MUS ICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l' l l Q tij |`9f\ G3 l i f l Inventor l i m RQT/P/cff MQUL/FE g @2:12, By @amm Patented Jan. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Patrick McAuliffe, New `ork, N. Y.

Applicaticn March 23, 1942, Serial No. 436,671

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in musical instruments, and has for its primary object to provide means for mounting a harmonica in a tube or barrel and providing removable closure means at the ends of the tube to produce variations in sound while a person is playing the harmonica.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on a line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially on a line 4 4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one end of the tube showing a modified closure fitted therein, and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of a modified construction of barrel or tube.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and with particular reference to Figures l to 4, inclusive, the numeral 5 designates a` tube which may be constructed of suitable material, such as wood or light weight metal, the tube having a slot 6 formed in one side thereof at a point substantially intermediate its ends, the edges of the slot being bent inwardly in substantially parallel relation, as shown at 1, to form a guide for engaging the opposite sides of a harmonica or mouth organ designated at 8. The ends of the harmonica are rounded, as shown at 9, and adapted to tightly fit against the ends of the slot, as shown to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings.

A light solder I or other suitable sealing medium, is placed around the edges of the slot E and in contact with the adjacent surfaces of the harmonica to secure the latter in position in the slot and also to provide a substantial air tight seal for the edges of the harmonica.

At each end of the harmonica is secured a bracket II which also has one end soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the adjacent side of the tube 5.

A cap I2 is removably secured on each end of the tube, one edge of the cap having an eye I3 formed thereon through which a ring member III is inserted for attaching to a similar eye I formed on one edge of a ring member I6 snugly fitted on the tube adjacent the end thereof.

One or both the caps I2 may be removed from the ends of the tube to control the tone produced by the harmonica when the same is being played.

In Figure 5 of the drawings I have illustrated a modified form of closure for the ends of the tube, such modified construction comprising a plug I'I adapted for tightly fitting in the end of the tube, the outer end of the plug having a head I8 thereon to facilitate removal and insertion thereof.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the tube 5 functions in the manner to vary the volume of the music produced by the harmonica.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 the barrel or tube I9 is made of wood and is formed with the longitudinal slot 2d for receiving the harmonica 2|, the walls of the slot are formed parallel to snugly receive the sides of the harmonica and shoulders 22 are formed on the interior of the tube upon which the inner edges of the harmonica are adapted to rest.

It is believed the details of construction, amount of use and advantages of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

l. A musical instrument comprising a tube having a slot intermediate its ends, the edges of the slot projecting inwardly of the tube to form a guide adapted to conformably receive a harmonica snugly fitted in the slot with its mouthengaging end projecting therefrom, and closure means for the ends of the table.

2. A musical instrument comprising a tubular member having a longitudinal slot intermediate its ends, the edges of the slot projecting inwardly of the tube to form a guide adapted to confcrmably receive a harmonica snugly tted in the slot, closures for each end of the tube, and means for attaching the closures to the tube when the closures are in open position.

3. A musical instrument comprising a tubular member having a longitudinal slot intermediate its ends, the edges of the slot projecting inwardly cf the tube to form` a guide adapted to conformably receive `a harmonica snugly fitted in the slot, closures for each end of the tube, a ring surrounding the tube, and means connecting the ring to the closure to anchor the closure to the tube when the closure is in open position.

4. A musical instrument comprising a tubular member having a longitudinal slot intermediate its ends, the edges of the slot projecting inwardly of the tube to form a guide adapted to conformably receive a harmonica snugly fitted in the slot, and a plug removably inserted in each end of the tube.

PATRICK MCAULIFFE. 

